Patent application title: BALER AND WRAPPER COMBINATION

Abstract:

A baler and wrapper combination comprises a baler, a bale wrapper, and a
bale transport table. The bale transport table is movable between a bale
receiving position at a bale output location of the baler, a wrapping
position at which the wrapper can wrap a bale located upon the bale
transport table with a sheet material, while movable bale support
elements rotate the bale around its horizontal central axis, and a bale
depositing position in which a wrapped bale can be deposited on the
ground. The bale support elements are arranged to be moved in the bale
depositing position into an orientation in which the bale is deposited on
its flat end.

Claims:

1. A baler and wrapper combination, comprising:a baler adapted for
producing round bales having a circumference and flat ends;a bale
wrapper; and,a bale transport table comprising movable bale support
elements arranged to rotate the bale around its horizontal central axis,
the bale transport table being movable between a bale receiving position
at a bale output location of the baler, a wrapping position at which the
wrapper can wrap a bale located upon the bale transport table with a
sheet material, and a bale depositing position in which a wrapped bale
can be deposited on the ground;wherein the bale support elements are
arranged to be moved, in the bale depositing position, into an
orientation in which the bale is deposited on a flat end.

2. A baler and wrapper combination according to claim 1, wherein the
combination comprises a frame supported on wheels, the baler and the bale
wrapper mounted to the frame.

3. A baler and wrapper combination according to claim 1, wherein the bale
support elements are arranged to be moved, in the bale depositing
position, into an orientation in which the bale is deposited on its
circumference.

4. A baler and wrapper combination according to claim 1, wherein the bale
support elements are arranged to be driven to rotate around a vertical
axis.

5. A baler and wrapper combination according to claim 1, wherein the bale
transport table can be pivoted around a horizontal pivot axis into the
bale depositing position, the pivot axis extending one of: in the
fore-aft direction and transversely thereto and in an intermediate
orientation between said orientations and selectable between at least two
of both said orientations.

6. A baler and wrapper combination according to claim 2, wherein the bale
transport table is mounted to the frame by an extendable arm that extends
and retracts in the fore-aft direction.

7. A baler and wrapper combination according to claim 6, wherein the
extendable arm is telescoping.

8. A baler and wrapper combination according to claim 6, wherein only a
single extendable arm is provided.

9. A baler and wrapper combination according to claim 6, wherein the
extendable arm is located one of: on one side or at the longitudinal
center plane of the frame.

10. A baler and wrapper combination according to claim 6, wherein the bale
transport table is further supported on a bale transport table support
element extending in the fore-aft direction, the bale transport table
support element spaced from the extendable arm in the transverse
direction.

11. A baler and wrapper combination according to claim 10, wherein the
bale transport table is supported by a wheel rolling along the bale
transport table support element.

12. A baler and wrapper combination according to claim 10, wherein the
bale transport table support element comprises a forward part fixed to
the frame and a rear part that is pivotable into an inoperative position
around a bale transport table support element pivot axis when the
extendable arm is retracted and thus the bale transport table is in the
bale receiving position.

13. A baler and wrapper combination according to claim 12, wherein the
bale transport table support element pivot axis extends horizontally and
transversely to the fore-aft direction.

14. A baler and wrapper combination according to claim 1, wherein the
vertical axis around which the bale support elements can rotate is
transversely offset from the longitudinal central plane of the baler and
wrapper combination.

15. A baler and wrapper combination according to claim 1, wherein at least
one of: the bale transport table and the extendable arm and the bale
transport table support element comprise(s) upstanding bale holding
elements.

16. A baler and wrapper combination according to claim 1, wherein the
sheet material is one of: provided on at least one roll mounted to an arm
fixed to the frame or arranged to rotate around a vertical axis, while
the bale support elements are rotating around the vertical axis during
wrapping or standing still.

Description:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001]The present invention relates to a baler and wrapper combination.
The baler and wrapper combination has a baler, a bale wrapper, and a bale
transport table. The bale transport table has movable bale support
elements arranged to rotate the bale around its horizontal central axis.
The bale transport table is movable between a bale receiving position at
a bale output location of the baler, a wrapping position at which the
wrapper can wrap a bale located upon the bale transport table with a
sheet material, and a bale depositing position in which a wrapped bale
can be deposited in the field.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002]Bale wrappers are commonly used in agriculture to wrap bales with
films consisting of impervious material such as plastics to envelop the
baled material in an airtight manner for the process of ensilage of
fodder.

[0003]In certain embodiments, such wrappers are realized as independent
machines connected to a tractor for transporting either the wrapper to
the respective bales lying in the field or for transporting the bales to
the wrapper (EP 0 829 197 A, GB 2 159 489 A, GB 2 305 648 A, IT 1 225 741
B, EP 0 367 529 A, WO 99/64297 A). In these wrappers, the plastic
material is wrapped by rotating the bale around its horizontal axis,
while either a table supporting the bale (GB 2 159 489 A, IT 1 225 741 B,
EP 0 367 529 A) or an arm carrying the wrapping material (EP 0 829 197 A)
is rotated simultaneously around a vertical axis, or all three rotations
are commonly performed (WO 99/64297 A). The bale is released to the
ground after completion of the wrapping process by tilting the table or
the parts of the wrapper holding the table. The bale thus rolls down from
the table to the ground. If it is intended to deposit the bale on its
flat end, an auxiliary tipping device can be used behind the wrapper (GB
2 305 648 A, EP 0 910 941 A). One disadvantage of the separate wrappers
is that a tractor and an operator are required for a second operation in
the field after baling, and that a considerable amount of time can pass
before the bale is wrapped, such that the crop may wilt or spoil in the
meantime.

[0004]In other embodiments, the wrapper is mounted on a common frame with
a baler (DE 41 20 733 A, EP 0 865 723 A, EP 1 186 225 A, EP 1 438 889 A)
or mounted on a separate wheeled chassis that is pulled behind the baler
(FR 2 658 985 A, WO 96/12399 A, U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,270 A), such that
baling and wrapping can be performed in a single pass over a field and
the bale is wrapped immediately after baling.

[0005]In the baler/wrapper combinations with a single frame, a table is
typically provided that slides along the frame to receive the completed
bale from the baler and to move it rearwards to the wrapper (DE 41 20 733
A, EP 0 865 723 A, EP 1 186 225 A, EP 1 438 889 A), or a tiltable device
catches the bale from the baler and conveys it to the wrapping table (DE
41 38 499 A). The table comprises rolls or belts for rotating the bale
around its axis during wrapping, while an arm carrying the wrapping
material is rotated simultaneously around a vertical axis. The bale is
discharged by tilting the table to the rear, such that the bale rolls
down to the ground. If the bale is to be deposited on its end, a tilting
device can be used behind the table for tipping the bale over (DE 41 38
499 A).

[0006]The wrappers that are pulled behind the baler are mounted on a
separate chassis with two wheels that are connected to the frame of the
wheeled baler by an extendable bar, which is mounted pivotally around a
vertical axis to the baler frame (FR 2 658 985 A, WO 96/12399 A, U.S.
Pat. No. 4,685,270 A), or by two extendable bars on both sides, while the
wrapper wheels are free to rotate around a vertical axis (FR 2 658 985
A). In the contracted position of the extendable bar, a picking device of
the wrapper is positioned immediately behind the outlet of the baler to
receive the bale. Then the bar is extended, the bale is transported from
the picking device to the wrapping table, and the bale is wrapped, by
rotating the bale around its axis and an arm dispensing the wrapping
material around a vertical axis, or by rotating the bale around its axis
and a vertical axis (FR 2 658 985 A). Finally, the bale is deposited on
the ground in the manner described with respect to the baler/wrapper
combinations with a single frame.

[0007]EP 1 832 157 A proposes a baler, wrapper or baler/wrapper
combination with a bale depositing device behind the baler or wrapper
that can put the bale on its flat end dependent on the slope of the
field.

[0008]One disadvantage of the wrapper pulled behind the baler is that the
entire combination is relatively long and thus difficult to operate in a
field, especially during turning in the headland and in particular when
heading backwards. Another problem, both with the known wrappers pulled
behind the baler and the baler/wrapper combinations having a single
frame, is that if the bale is to be deposited on its flat end, additional
tilting devices need to be employed for tipping the bale over during
unloading, adding complexity and cost to the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009]It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a
baler/wrapper combination that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior
art.

[0010]Accordingly, a baler and wrapper combination is arranged to be
pulled behind a tractor over a field and comprises baler and a wrapper,
as well as a bale transport table. The bale transport table is movable in
the fore-aft direction of the combination, between a bale receiving
position in which it can receive a completed bale that is ejected by the
baler, and a wrapping position in which the wrapper can wind sheet
material around the bale, while the latter is rotated around its central
horizontal axis by movable bale support elements of the bale transport
table. Further, the bale support table is movable into a bale depositing
position in which the wrapped bale is deposited onto the ground. The bale
support elements are arranged to be moved, in the bale depositing
position, into an orientation in which the bale is deposited on its flat
end. Preferably, they can also be moved into an orientation in which the
bale is deposited on its circumference. The former position has the
advantage that the bale cannot roll away, especially on sloped fields.

[0011]The baler and wrapper combination preferably comprises a frame that
is supported on wheels or belted crawler chains. The frame is preferably
a single frame, which can comprise distinct parts assigned to the baler
and to the wrapper, respectively, but are rigidly mounted together, or
unitary parts supporting both the baler and the wrapper. The baler and
the wrapper are mounted to the frame. In another embodiment, the baler
has a frame supported on assigned wheels and the wrapper has a frame
supported on assigned wheels. The frames can be pivotally coupled around
a vertical axis or be rigidly connected.

[0012]The bale orientation can be selected among the mentioned
orientations, in an advantageous embodiment automatically according to
the slope of the field in the fore-aft and transverse direction, such
that the bale is deposited on its flat end unless the field is
sufficiently flat such that the bale cannot roll away. In another
embodiment, or a manual mode of the automatic embodiment, the operator
can select whether the bale is deposited on its end or on its
circumference. For this purpose, an electronic control unit can be
provided on board of the baler and wrapper combination or of the tractor.
The control unit is connected to the actuators of the baler and wrapper
combination for controlling the bale handling process and to an operator
interface with which the operator can select a desired operating and bale
depositing mode.

[0013]The first mentioned orientation and also the latter one can be
achieved when the bale support elements are arranged to be rotationally
driven around a vertical axis. Such a rotational mounting of the bale
support elements allows selecting the orientation of the bale transport
table and thus the bale in the bale depositing position before and/or
during unloading between a position in which the bale is deposited on its
circumference, and by turning the bale transport table by up to 900
around the vertical axis, another position in which the bale is deposited
on its flat end.

[0014]The bale transport table preferably pivots around a horizontal axis
into the bale depositing position. This horizontal axis can be oriented
transversely to the fore-aft direction of the baler, such that the bale
is ejected to the rear, or parallel to the fore-aft direction of the
baler, such that the bale is ejected to the side, or between these two
mentioned orientations, for example by 45° to the rear and to the
side, such that the bale is ejected under an angle of 45° with
respect to the fore-aft direction towards the side. The embodiment with
selectable angles of the pivot axis of the bale transport table does not
require a bale transport table that can be rotated around the vertical
axis. Such an arrangement can comprise three ball joint bearings for
supporting the bale transport table on its three corners, wherein two of
the bearings are supported on corresponding arms or actuators, which may
be tilted or shifted on their end.

[0015]The bale transport table is preferably mounted to the frame by means
of an extendable arm that extends and retracts in the fore-aft direction
of the baler and wrapper combination. Such an arm can comprise two
U-shaped bars or the like that are mounted together in a sliding fashion
or a telescoping element. An actuator moves the bale transport table in
the fore-aft direction. In order to avoid synchronizing problems,
preferably only a single extendable arm is provided.

[0016]The extendable arm can be located at the longitudinal center plane
of the frame or at a side thereof. Especially in the latter case, the
bale support table can be additionally supported on a bale transport
table support element that extends in the fore-aft direction and is
offset towards the side from the extendable arm, preferably such that the
bale transport table is supported between the bale transport table
support element and the extendable arm.

[0017]Between the bale transport table support element and the bale
transport table, at least one wheel can be provided for reducing the
friction. Preferably, a single wheel is mounted to the bale transport
table for this purpose, although it would be possible to mount two or
more wheels to the bale transport table or to the bale transport table
support element.

[0018]In order to provide a compact transport position for the baler and
wrapper combination, the bale transport table support element comprises a
forward part fixed to the frame and a rear part that can be pivoted into
an inoperative position around a horizontal bale transport table support
element pivot axis while the extendable arm is retracted and the bale
transport table is hence in its forward bale receiving position and
supported on the forward part of the bale transport table support
element. The bale transport table support element pivot axis preferably
extends horizontally and transversely to the forward direction.

[0019]In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vertical rotation
axis of the bale support elements is transversely offset from the
longitudinal central plane of the baler and wrapper combination. Thus,
the space between the bale and the extendable arm or other elements
mounted to the frame can be enlarged, what is particularly useful when
the bale is rotated by 90° around the vertical axis from its
original position.

[0020]In order to avoid that the bale falls down from the bale support
table during rotation thereof around the vertical axis and/or the
horizontal centre axis of the bale, it is proposed that the bale
transport table and/or the extendable arm and/or the bale transport table
support element comprise(s) upstanding bale holding elements.

[0021]Finally, the rotation of the bale support elements around the
vertical axis can be continuous during the bale wrapping operation. Thus,
the at least one arm holding a roll with sheet material for wrapping the
bale can be fixed to the frame or it can rotate around a vertical axis in
the opposite direction compared to the bale, in order to accelerate the
wrapping process. It is also possible that only the arm with the sheet
material roll rotates around the vertical axis during the wrapping
process in a known manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]Embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0024]FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the frame of the baler and
wrapper combination with the bale transport table in the wrapping
position;

[0025]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the bale support elements of the bale
transport table;

[0026]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bale support table in a bale
depositing position;

[0027]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a bale
support table;

[0028]FIG. 6 is a perspective rear view of the frame of the baler and
wrapper combination with the bale transport table rotated by 90°
around the vertical axis relative to the orientation of FIG. 2, such that
the bale would be deposited with its flat end on the ground;

[0029]FIG. 7 is a perspective rear view of the frame of the baler and
wrapper combination similar to FIG. 6, but with the bale transport table
tilted in the bale depositing position as shown in FIG. 4;

[0030]FIG. 8 is a perspective rear view of the frame of the baler and
wrapper combination with the bale transport table in the bale receiving
position;

[0031]FIG. 9 is a perspective rear view of the frame of the baler and
wrapper combination similar to FIG. 8, but with the bale transport table
tilted in the bale depositing position; and,

[0032]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the frame with the extendable arm
and the bale transport table support element in their inoperative
transport position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0033]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the right side of a baler and
wrapper combination 10. The baler and wrapper combination 10 comprises a
single frame 12 supported on tandem wheels 14. The frame 12 supports a
baler 16 with a rear door 18 and a bale wrapper 20. In operation the
baler and wrapper combination 10 is pulled behind a tractor (not shown)
by a tongue 22 into a forward direction that extends in FIG. 1 to the
right side. The baler and wrapper combination 10 could also be a
self-propelled unit, manned or unmanned.

[0034]A bale 24 produced in the baler 16 is transported by a movable bale
transport table 26 (not shown in FIG. 1, since in the bale receiving
position below the rear door 18, but shown in the following figures) from
a bale receiving position at a bale output location beneath the rear door
18 of the baler 16 to a wrapping position beneath the bale wrapper 20.
Above the bale transport table 26 in the wrapping position, two opposite
arms 28 having orthogonal vertical and horizontal sections surround the
bale 24. Each vertical section of the arms 28 supports a film or sheet
material dispenser 30. The center ends of the horizontal sections of the
arms 28 are connected to a drive arrangement 32 operable to rotate the
arms 30 around a vertical axis. The drive arrangement 32 is connected to
the frame 12 by a support frame 34 and comprises a hydraulic motor
coupled to the hydraulic system of the tractor.

[0035]Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which shows the frame 12 with the
support frame 34 and the bale transport table 26, while the baler 16 and
the wrapper 20 are removed for the sake of clarity and simplification.
The bale transport table 26 is on its right end supported on an
extendable arm 36 that is composed of a forward section 38 fixed to the
frame 12 and a rear, telescoping section 40 that can slide with respect
to the forward section 38 in the fore-aft direction and is received
within the forward section 38 in the retracted position. An actuator 42
in the form of a hydraulic cylinder is also located in the forward
section 38 and serves to move the rear section 40. Actuator 42 can be
mounted beneath the extendable arm 36 as shown, or mounted in a protected
position within the arm 36. The left end of the bale transport table 26
is supported on a wheel 44. The wheel 44 abuts the rear part 46 of a bale
transport table support element that extends in the fore-aft direction
(which is the longitudinal moving direction of the bale transport table
26) and is shown in more detail in FIG. 10. The rear part 46 of the bale
transport table support element is mounted to the frame 12 on its forward
end pivotally around a bale transport table support element pivot axis 50
that extends transversely to the fore-aft direction and horizontal. The
frame 12 further supports a forward part 54 of the bale transport table
support element. The rear part 46 can thus be pivoted into an upright
position for transport by an actuator 56 in the form of a hydraulic
cylinder (see FIGS. 8 and 9) when the bale transport table 26 is moved
into the bale receiving position, such that the wheel 46 is not supported
on the rear part 46 of the bale transport table support element, but on
its forward part 54, as depicted in FIG. 10.

[0036]From FIG. 2, it is further apparent that the wheels 14 are mounted
to a bogie support 58 that is pivotally mounted to the frame 12 between
the wheels 14 around a horizontally and transversely extending axis 60.
The frame 12 comprises side members 62 connected by transverse bars 64.

[0037]Two vertically extending bars 66 supporting a lower mounting frame
70 of the bale support table 26 are mounted to the rear section 40 of the
extendable arm 36 by an intermediate member 72. The wheel 44 is also
mounted to the lower mounting frame 70. The forward section 38 of the
extendable arm 36 is slotted to receive the intermediate member 72 when
the actuator 42 is retracted. The rear bar 66 further holds a bale
holding element 74. The bale holding element 74 extends vertically. It
has a conical shape, and it is rotatable around the vertical axis.

[0038]Reference is now made to FIG. 3, showing an exploded view of an
upper mounting frame 76 of the bale support table 26 and the bale support
elements 78 that are provided as belts running around rollers 80. The
bale support elements 78 can either have a high or a low friction. For
bale unloading purposes, the bale support elements 78 can be provided
with transverse ridges (not shown), that make sliding of the bale 24
transversely to the bale support elements 78 easier when the bale 24 is
to be dropped with its flat end lying on the ground. The upper mounting
frame 76 comprises end members 82 supporting the rollers 80. The end
members 82 are connected by crossbars 84, 86. One end member 82 holds a
hydraulic motor 88 that drives during operation one of the rollers 80 and
thus the bale support elements 78 via a chain and sprocket transmission
92. The central crossbar 84 is supported on a vertically extending shaft
90. Two bale holding elements 74 are supported on one of the end members
82. The bale holding elements 74 extend vertically. They have a conical
shape, and are rotatable around the vertical axis.

[0039]In FIG. 4, it is shown that the lower mounting frame 70 is of a
rectangular construction and holds a delta shaped pivot frame 94
pivotable around a horizontal pivot axis 96 that extends horizontal and
transverse to the forward direction of the baler wrapper combination 10.
The pivot frame 94 is coupled to a pair of actuators 98 in the form of
hydraulic cylinders that are arranged to pivot the pivot frame 94 around
the pivot axis 96. Shaft 90 of the upper mounting frame 76 is supported
on the pivot frame 94 in a manner such that it can be rotated by
90° by an actuator 100 that is coupled on one end to the pivot
frame 94 and on the other end to a lever 102 connected to the shaft 90.
At least parts of the hydraulic supply lines leading to the hydraulic
motor 88 and to the actuators 98 and 100 are flexible, since they are
moving with respect to the frame 12 during operation.

[0040]An alternative embodiment of the upper mounting frame 76 of the bale
support table 26 is shown in FIG. 5. The main difference is that on both
lateral end members 82, two bale holding elements 74 are provided. The
added bale holding elements 74 are provided to make tipping the bale over
easier during unloading.

[0041]Hence, the operation mode of the baler and wrapper combination 10
can be described as follows. After a bale 24 is completed by the baler
16, the actuator 42 is retracted to move the rear section 40 of the
extendable arm 36 into the forward section 38 and thus the bale transport
table 26 into the bale receiving position. The actuator 100 is retracted
to bring the rollers 80 into a transverse position, and the actuators 98
are retracted to move the transport table 26 into a horizontal
orientation. This situation is shown in FIG. 8. Then the door 18 opens
and the bale 24 falls onto the bale transport table 26. If no wrapping of
the bale 24 is required, the actuators 98 can be immediately extended
such that the bale 24 rolls onto the ground, as shown in FIG. 9.

[0042]On the other hand, if wrapping is required, the actuator 42 is
extended to telescope the rear section 40 of the extendable arm 36 out of
the forward section 38, while the wheel 44 rolls first along the forward
part 54 and afterwards on the rear part 46 of the bale transport table
support. Thus the bale transport table 26 is brought into the bale
wrapping position as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. During the wrapping
operation, the hydraulic motor 88 drives the rollers 80, such that the
bale 24 rotates around its horizontal center axis, while the arms 28
rotate around the bale 24 and the sheet material is unwound from the
sheet material dispensers 30 and wrapped around the bale 24.

[0043]Film holders 104, 106 allow pulling the sheet material against the
bale 24 during the start of the wrapping operation and cut it off after
the wrapping process. The film holders 104, 106 are provided on both
sides of the wrapper 20 and pivotally mounted around horizontal axes 118,
110 to lower film holder members 120, 122 which are mounted to the
forward section 38 at the right side and to the rear part 46 of the bale
transport table support at the left side of the baler and wrapper
combination 10. The film holders can be pivoted by actuators 112, 114 in
the form of horizontal cylinders between lowered positions for moving the
bale 24 into the wrapping position as shown in FIG. 2 and raised
positions for simple operation (not shown).

[0044]When the wrapping process is completed, the film on the bale 24 is
cut off from the film supply on the film dispensers 30 by the film
holders 104 and 106, and then the bale 24 can be unloaded by expanding
actuators 98, such that the bale 24 rolls from the bale transport table
26 upon its circumference (similar to the situation shown in FIG. 9, but
now the bale transport table 26 is in the wrapping position). However, if
it is preferred to deposit the bale 24 with its flat end upon the ground,
thus with its center axis vertical, after the wrapping operation,
actuator 100 is expanded to rotate the upper mounting frame 76 together
with the support elements 78 and the bale 24 around the vertical axis and
thus into the position shown in FIG. 6. The shaft 90 of the upper
mounting frame 76 is not located on the longitudinal center plane of the
baler and wrapper combination 10, but offset to the left side by a
sufficient amount to provide clearance between the bale 24 on one hand
and the bale holding element 74 mounted on the vertically extending bar
66 and the rear section 40 of the extendable arm 36 on the other hand. If
now the actuators 98 are expanded, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the bale 24
is tipped over and rests on its flat end. Expansion (and retraction) of
the actuators 100 and 98 can take place simultaneously. Thus, the bale 24
cannot roll away, what is in particular advantageous on sloped fields. In
an automated embodiment, the bale 24 can be dropped onto the field only
in this manner if the field slope exceeds a predetermined angle. After
the bale is ejected, the process starts again as described. If the bale
is not to be wrapped, but dropped on its flat end, the bale transport
table can be moved from the position shown in FIG. 8 to the position of
FIG. 2 and, without wrapping, to the position of FIG. 7. An electronic
control unit (not shown) can be provided on board of the baler and
wrapper combination 10 or on the tractor. The control unit is connected
to the actuators of the baler and wrapper combination 10 for controlling
the bale handling process, to a slope sensor, and to an operator
interface with which the operator can select a desired operating and bale
depositing mode, like described before, which is then executed
automatically by the control unit.

[0045]For simple baling operation or transporting and storing the baler
and wrapper combination 10, the actuator 42 is retracted to move the rear
section 40 of the extendable arm 36 into the forward section 38 and thus
the bale transport table 26 into a compact position. The rear part 46 of
a bale transport table support element is pivoted into a vertical
transport position by actuator 56 around axis 52, thus raising also the
lower film holder member 122 together with film holder 106 into a
vertical transport position, while the actuator 114 assigned to film
holder 106 orients the latter parallel to the rear part 46. The lower
film holder member 120 together with film holder 104 on the right side is
also raised by an actuator 116 into a vertical transport position around
an axis 108, while the actuator 112 assigned to the film holder 104
orients the latter parallel to the lower film holder member 122. Thus, a
compact position is achieved, as shown in FIG. 10.

[0046]Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent
that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope
of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.